Plate mounting



L. V. CASTO PLATE MOUNTING Original Filed Sept. 10, 1927 Fer. l

Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LLOYD V. CASTO, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB- TO OXFORD VARNISH CORPORA- TION, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN PLATE MOUNTING Original application filed September 10, 1927, Serial No. 218,743, and in Australia September 6, 1928. Divided and this application filed November 5, 1929. Serial No. 405,009.

This invention is concerned with an improvement in mountings for relatively thin intaglio or engraved plates of large dimensions, and has for its general object the provision of a rigid, portable mounting for engraved plates such as photogravure plates of exceptionally large size. The subject matter of this application comprises a division of my prior application Serial Number 218,743, filed September 10, 1927'.

In the art of reproducing wood grain finishes on metallic and other smooth, hard surfaces, a wooden panel is first selected having a grain corresponding to the grain it is desired to simulate. By a photographic process a photogravure plate is made by the use of a negative and carbon resist, which plate usually will be of the same dimensions as the original panel. The dimension of the plate therefore, is determined by the dimension of the surface it is desired to wood grain. It will be apparent that these plates assume comparatively large dimensions and since the body of the plate comprises a copper or other metallic sheet comparatively thin in cross section, it must be supported uniformly whereby pigment may be scraped from its engraved surface by the use of a doctor blade having a straight edge.

More specifically, therefore, my invention is directed to the provision of a mounting construction which will properly support and hold an engraved plate of the type referred to, the mounting being such that it also constitutes a protection for the plate during shipping, storage, etc.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mounting construction for the purpose referred to that will have no openings or crevices present in its upper surfaces, thus making available a mounting which can be maintained in a clean condition with very little attention on the part of the user.

Other objects of my invention will be hereinafter set forth in the following description, referrin to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred form thereof. The essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a plate mounting embodying the features of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective crosssectional view of the same.

I prefer to form the body of the plate mounting of a well seasoned wood which will not warp under ordinary weather. conditions, although it is to be understood that the body may have a metallic construction. In

. plate.

In the present application I disclose a mounting construction which is adapted to receive a plate 12 when the plate is of such width that it may extend from one side to the other of the mounting construction.

The plate side margins are secured along their outer longitudinal edges to the body of the mounting in such manner that access of inks or pigments thereto is prevented. I accomplish this by attaching spacer strips 16 along the inner faces of the flange boards 10 and I place over the upper edges of the flange boards 10 and over the strips 16, a metallic sheathing 18 which is formed to provide an inwardly turned flange 19 at its inner edge whereby a clamping means may engage this inner edge, the clamping means being, as shown, pieces of angle irons 20 extending throughout the length of the mounting. The angle irons 20 and the flanges 19 of the sheathing 18 may be coincidentally perforated or slotted whereby clamping bolts 22 may extend therethrough and through the plate support- 9. ing boards 8, whereby the lower ends of the bolts, which carry nuts 23, may become accessible by upending the mounting construction. The outer lower ends of the sheathing 18 may be secured to the outer faces of the boards 10 in any suitable manner, for example, with screws 24, as shown in Fig. 2.

If desired, the flange boards 10, spacer strips 16 and sheathing 18 may be shaped whereby the entire flange construction will have a downwardly and inwardly curving surface to cause fluid pigment and inks to run inwardly and downwardly to the strips 14 or plate 12 as the case may be. mounting and plate are placed in use, the operator spreads an ink or pigment over the surface of the plate and some of this ink may spread over the marginal edges of the plate, but when a doctor blade having a width corresponding to the distance from face to face of the inner faces of the sheathing 18 is drawn over the face of the plate it will scrape the entire width of the plate. It is the practice to not draw the blade over the entire surface of the plate, thus leaving the ink accumulated adjacent one end of the mounting, but if desired, pigment troughs may be attached or built into the mounting construction at the ends of the plate. In any event, the plate is ready for a transfer take-off by an elastic roller transfer, each time the pigment is applied and the doctor blade bypassed over the'plate and mounting surface.

It will be apparent that the mounting described carries the plate in such position that the entire width thereof can be utilized by the operator, for when a wide plate is mounted, the engraving thereon need not extend over the entire width of the plate, thus leaving unengraved surfaces on the plate adjacent to the mounting flanges.

It will be obvious that with the construction shown no interstices are presented anywhere for the accumulation of dried inks or pigments by reason of the fact that the entire upper surfaces of the mounting are covered with unbroken metallic sheathing and that the flanges and entire apparatus can be maintained in a clean condition by the operator with a minimum of labor.

I claim:

1. In a mounting for thin metallic plates, the combination of a plate supporting medium constructed of seasoned wood and adapted to have an engraved plate mounted thereon, the mounting having a flange construction along the longitudinal edges thereof, the flange construction including a metallic covering attached to the flange construction along the outer faces of the flange construction and having a concealed attachment to the plate supporting medium, said metallic covering of the flange construction also comprising part of a clamping means for securing a plate to the supporting medium.

2. In a mounting for thin metallic plates, the combination of a plate supporting medium adapted to have an engraved plate mounted thereon, the mounting having a When the flange construction along the longitudinal edges thereof, the flange construction including a metallic covering attached to the flange construction along the outer faces thereof, said metallic covering having an inwardly turned flange portion and means extending substantially the length of the mounting for clamping said flange of the covering and the edges of the plate to the mounting.

3. In a mounting for thin metallic plates,

the combination of a plate supporting medium adapted to have an engraved plate mounted thereon, the mounting having a flange construction along the longitudinal edges thereof and means associated with the flange construction for clamping the plate to the mounting along the longitudinal edges thereof.

. 4. In a mounting for thin metallic plates, the combination of a plate supporting medium adapted tohave an engraved plate mounted thereon, the mounting having a flange construction along the longitudinal edges thereof, the flange construction including a metallic covering attached thereto and comprising part of a clamping means for securing the plate to the mounting by engaging the ed es of the plate throughout substantially tieir entire length.

5. In a mounting for a relatively thin metallic plate, tlu combination of a plate supporting body adapted to have a plate mounted on the upper surface thereof and a concealed plate securing means including a flange structure adapted to engage the edges of the plate for clamping the plate to the marginal edges of the body.

6. In a mounting for a relatively thin metallic plate, the combination of a plate supporting body adapted to have an engraved plate mounted on the upper surface thereof whereby the plate can be uniformly supported throughout its entire area and a concealed plate securing means for clamping the plate to the marginal edges of the body and comprising a flange structure extending longitudinally along the marginal edges of the plate whereby a smooth surface is presented over the upper surface of the mounting and plate.

7. In a mounting for an engraved metallic plate, the combination of a plate supporting body adapted to have a plate mounted thereon and a concealed plate securing means for clamping the plate to the marginal edges of the body longitudinally of the plate edges, said plate securing means comprising a flange structure extending along each side of the plate.

8. In a mounting for an engraved metallic plate, the combination of a plate supporting medium adapted to have an engraved plate mounted thereon and means engaging the edges of the plate for clamping the plate to I so the mounting, said means including an angle iron extending longitudinally of the mounting and clamping means adapted to engage the angle iron and the under side of the mounting.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

1 LLOYD V. CASTO. 

